(FRA) Foresight workshop on scenarios for fundamental rights in Europe in 2040

Date of article: 19/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  EUROPE

Author:

Article language: en

Support for human rights systems and defenders

When  - 

Where Vienna, Austria

Organised By FRA

FRA event

FRA will host a foresight workshop in Vienna from 21 to 22 May to develop fundamental rights scenarios for Europe in 2040.

It will take a participatory approach based on the future knowledge pool looking at factors of change that was established in the foresight exercise so far. 

This workshop forms part of a FRA project designed to integrate a fundamental rights perspective into strategic policy foresight by the EU and its Member States. 

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La difesa civica italiana ringrazia il Presidente della Repubblica per il suo riconoscimento del ruolo dell'European Ombudsman

Date of article: 15/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Italy - Autonomous Province of Trento

Author:

Article language: it

 

l Presidente del Coordinamento dei Difensori civici regionali e delle Province autonome esprime, a nome dell'intera rete della difesa civica italiana, gratitudine ed orgoglio verso il Capo dello Stato, il quale, in occasione del conferimento della Laurea honoris causa presso l’Università di Coimbra, ha ricordato la Mediatrice europea, Teresa Anjinho, ex studentessa della prestigiosa Facoltà di Giurisprudenza dell’Ateneo portoghese​, ed il ruolo fondamentale della difesa civica nel "rafforzare fiducia tra Unione e cittadini, sostenendo i più elevati standard di integrità nelle istituz​​ioni".

​​Di seguito il link al comunicato rilasciato dal Presidente del Coordinamento:​

https://www.coordifesacivicaitalia.it/?p=1789​

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Il caso della settimana

Date of article: 19/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Italy - Lazio

Author:

Article language: it

Un cittadino coinvolto in un procedimento penale chiede l’accesso agli atti: il Difensore Civico accoglie il ricorso e il Comune gli trasmette la comunicazione che in precedenza aveva inviato solo alla scuola.

 

Il Difensore Civico della Regione Lazio è stato chiamato a intervenire in merito a un ricorso presentato da un cittadino coinvolto in un procedimento penale connesso a una denuncia in ambito coniugale.

Il caso riguardava il rifiuto, da parte di un Comune, di fornire copia della comunicazione inviata alla scuola frequentata dai figli del ricorrente, relativa a una misura cautelare adottata dall’Autorità Giudiziaria nei suoi confronti.

La richiesta di accesso era motivata dal desiderio di comprendere i contenuti e la proporzionalità della comunicazione stessa, soprattutto in vista delle difficoltà riscontrate dai nonni paterni – genitori del ricorrente – nell’accompagnare i nipoti a scuola.

A fronte del diniego iniziale da parte del Comune, il cittadino si è rivolto al Difensore Civico ai sensi dell’art. 25 della Legge 241/1990. Dopo un’attenta valutazione, il Difensore ha accolto il ricorso, ritenendo legittimo il diritto di accesso del cittadino agli atti amministrativi che lo riguardano e che non risultano coperti da segreto istruttorio.

Il Comune ha dato seguito immediato alla decisione del Difensore, trasmettendo al ricorrente la comunicazione originariamente inviata all’istituto scolastico.

L’intera vicenda si è conclusa senza compromettere in alcun modo la sicurezza della persona denunciante né quella dei minori coinvolti.

Il cittadino ha successivamente formalizzato un sentito ringraziamento all’Ufficio del Difensore Civico.

 

Nota:

Il Difensore Civico non si schiera né con la parte denunciante né con quella denunciata, ma tutela il diritto di ogni cittadino – anche se sottoposto a un procedimento penale pendente – a conoscere gli atti amministrativi che lo riguardano, nel rispetto della legge e della riservatezza altrui.

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Correspondence with Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment on Own-Initiative Investigation into Corradino Correctional Facility published

Date of article: 19/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Malta

Author:

Article language: en

The Office of the Ombudsman is publishing the correspondence exchanged with the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment regarding the own-initiative investigation into allegations of systemic maladministration within the Corradino Correctional Facility.

On 31 January 2025, the Ombudsman published a detailed report following the conclusion of an own-initiative investigation into the administration and operational practices at the facility. The report set out a number of recommendations aimed at improving standards, enhancing transparency, and strengthening oversight in the interest of both persons in the correctional facility and the wider public.

Subsequently, on 3 April 2025, the Parliamentary Ombudsman Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon wrote to the Minister for Home Affairs Security and Employment, the Hon. Byron Camilleri requesting a formal response on whether the recommendations outlined in the report would be implemented, and if so, inviting the Ministry to outline the methodology of implementation.

On 16 April 2025, the Minister, responded in a detailed letter outlining the Ministry’s ongoing reform process at the Correctional Services Agency. The Minister referred to significant changes made in the aftermath of the 2021 Grech Inquiry, which preceded and was referenced in the Ombudsman’s report. These included legislative reforms, the establishment of the Commissioner for Prisoners’ Welfare and Development, infrastructural upgrades, investment in rehabilitation programmes, and greater collaboration with civil society and international bodies.

The Ombudsman replied on 17 April 2025, requesting the Ministry’s formal consent to publish both his original letter and the Minister’s response in full, in line with the Office’s commitment to transparency.

On 16 May 2025, after no further response was received, the Ombudsman wrote once more to the Minister, advising that unless circumstances dictated otherwise, the Office would proceed with publication of the full correspondence between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ministry following the publication of the report, in the interest of transparency and public accountability.

On the same day the Ministry informed the Ombudsman that it had no objection to the publication of this correspondence.

The full exchange of letters is being published.

Correspondence between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment

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Public Defender Presents Special Report on Administration of Justice relating to Life-Sentenced Prisoners

Date of article: 19/05/2025

Daily News of: 20/05/2025

Country:  Georgia

Author:

Article language: en

On May 19, 2025, the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, presented the Legislative and Practical Analysis of Administration of Justice and Parole of Life-Sentenced Prisoners.

The special report reviews the procedures required for commutation, mitigation, termination of sentence or parole of life-sentenced prisoners in the Georgian penitentiary system, the international practice of extending leniency to them, and the compliance of guarantees and mechanisms available in Georgia with European standards.

In his speech, the Public Defender spoke about the shortcomings identified as a result of the study of criminal cases and the trends identified in the penitentiary system in relation to life-sentenced prisoners during the period of serving their sentences, and emphasized the importance of fair administration of justice.

The event was also addressed by Levan Tevzadze, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia and Chairman of the Criminal Chamber, Rati Ionatamishvili, Chairman of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, and Giorgi Dgebuadze, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia.

After the presentation, the attendees held a discussion on the issues reflected in the report.

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